History of Tasley and the Railroad
The village of Tasley came into existence with the opening of the New York, Philadelphia, and Norfolk
(N.Y.P. & N.) railroad. The station was built here in 1884, it was originally called “Accomac Station.”
The station and the budding community that sprung up around it were being referred to as both “Tasley Station”
and “Tasley” in early 1885.
How the moniker “Tasley” came to be is a source of conflicting information. Some
sources state that the community was named after Tasley, Shropshire, England. Others say it was
named after the Tazewell family, decendants of former Virginia governor Littleton Tazewell, on whose
land the large N.Y.P. & N. rail yard and float operation was constructed in Cape Charles.
The Tasley rail yard was one of the largest and busiest on the Eastern Shore in the early 1900’s.
Numerous sidings, loading docks, freight buildings, produce brokers, twin water tanks (for watering
the locomotive tenders) and of course the passenger station provided necessary business, agricultural
and transportation services. The success of the railroad led to expansion of the single main line track
in 1910 to double track in the Tasley and Onley area and that of the Eastville and Birdsnest area. Eventually the
whole rail line would be double tracked.
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Tasley Station circa 1935
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With the coming of the railroad came the mishaps and accidents associated with this new technology.
The Peninsula Enterprise reported in its September 13, 1884 edition that “The (N.Y.P. & N.) engine was
badly damaged… on Friday night of last week, by the north bound train running into a car which had been
carelessly left on the main track on the road at Accomac Station”.
Evidently, persons found the rails a comfortable place to sleep off the effects of too much alcoholic
beverage, often with disastrous results. The Peninsula Enterprise gives this graphic report of such an
instance in its April 4th, 1885 issue:
“The north bound train passing Tasley at 10:30 on Monday night, struck Edward P. East, within one hundred
yards of his house, mangling him in the most horrible manner. The body was ground almost as fine as sausage
meat, and strewed along the track for over sixty feet. He had been to the station, and the testimony at the
inquest showed he was considerably under the effects of liquor. His hat was found opposite his house, nearly
a hundred yards from where the first blood was found, and parts of his clothing were found a quarter of a mile
away. Whether he was lying asleep on the track, or was knocked over by the train, or was killed and placed
there will never be known. The inquest could throw but little light on the subject. It is probable though,
that he went to sleep on the track while under the influence of liquor and in that condition met his awful death.”
And in another case, another graphic account from the Enterprise, June 4th, 1887:
“The sad intelligence was received at Accomac C.H., early Tuesday morning that the mangled body of a white
man was found on the railroad track near Tasley station and investigation resulted in the identification of
Mr. Geo. W. T. Hinman, of Bloxom station as the victim. He had attended court on Monday and at night sought
to return home by rail, but was refused a ticket by the agent because of a want of enough money to pay for it.
After the north bound train left he was seen sitting on the track and it is supposed that overcome by sleep and
intoxicants in which he had indulged during the day he met the sad fate which overtook him. Two freight trains
bound south passed over him, severing his head from his body and crushing it to jelly, cutting off both his legs
and strewing his entrails along the track for fifty yards or more. A more terrible spectacle cannot be imagined
than his remains presented. A coroner’s inquest was held and the jury in their verdict exculpated the railroad
authorities, unwisely perhaps. The engineer of the first train knew that he had passed over the body of a man
but gave no warning so far as we know to prevent his body from being further mutilated by the train which followed
after it. In that respect they failed to do their duty even if they were not at fault in other respects. The
remains of the unfortunate man were gathered in a box and sent to his home where they were interred on Wednesday,
in the presence of a large crowd of friends. The decedent was about 38 years old and well thought of by every one
who knew him. He leaves a wife and three children.”
Of course, some saw the rails as a way out. Enterprise, June 6th, 1885:
“Spencer Parker, a young man of 26, near Tasley Station, this county. On the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk
Railroad, twice attempted to commit suicide on last Saturday, by throwing himself before approaching trains.
He was dragged away just in time to save his life. Justice Scarburgh had him arrested and he is now confined in
our jail.”
And there were mechanical failures as well. The Peninsula Enterprise reported on May 15th, 1886:
“The fast freight bound north was delayed by an accident at Tasley station on Wednesday. A piece was blown
out of a boiler and eccentric rod broken off engine No. 5 and train had to await arrival of another engine from
Cape Charles.”
And sometimes human error played a part. Enterprise, August 9th, 1902:
“An engine of the N. Y. P. & N. R. R. Co. was demolished and thrown from track and another badly injured at
Tasley station last Wednesday. The accident was due to the carelessness of some one in leaving the "switch open."
The passengers on the train were badly shaken up but no one seriously injured.
These are just a few of many tragic accidents and serious events that took place along the entire railroad in its
early days, there are many, many more like this all up and down the Shore.
However, the coming of the railroad to Tasley and its stations was welcomed by many, including nearby landowners.
As communities and towns tended to spring up around the larger stations, land was divided into lots and offered
for sale. From the Enterprise, May 14th and 21st, 1887:
“Mr. Geo. W. Beloate advertises in this issue several lots at Tasley station. The price asked is reasonable and
many should avail themselves of the offer.”
How reasonable? Let’s see…
“FOR SALE – On the west side of Tasley station, several lots, 65 feet front, 120 feet back, at $100 each.
Possession given at once. Geo. W. Belote, Tasley, Va.”
In 1900, several prominent businessmen incorporated the “Onancock and Drummondtown Electric Railway, Light,
and Power Company”. Among it’s other endeavors,
“The said company shall have power and authority to construct, equip, maintain, and operate a railroad in the
county of Accomac, in the state of Virginia, from a point in the town of Onancock, at or near the present
steamboat wharf, along the line of Market street, in an easterly direction to the corporate limits of said town;
thence along the county road of said county, or by some route parallel thereto, to the Tasley station on the line
of the New York, Philadelphia, and Norfolk railroad; thence continuing along said county road, or by some route
parallel thereto, to the village of Drummondtown; thence through said village of Drummondtown to James S. Melson's
store; and thence along the seaside county road, or by some route parallel thereto, to James R. Lewis' store at
the foot of Bayly's Neck road.” From CHAP. 762.—An ACT to incorporate the Onancock and Drummondtown electric
railway, light and power company.," Acts and Joint Resolutions Passed by the General Assembly of Virginia During
the Session of 1899-1900, 3 pages, pp. 805-807, March 5, 1900
Additionally, in 1907, a company called the “Accomack Traction and Power Company” was formed to relieve the
inadequacies of transportation on steamers. A number of merchants were upset by delays with steamboat shipping.
A rail line was to be constructed from Onancock to Tasley, then to Accomac with an eastern terminus at Battle
Point, Metompkin Bay.
Evidently these lines were never built. I have been unable to research these further at this time.